Differences between German regions with respect to growth factors: a comparison based on a cluster analysis
The objective of the paper is to examine regional disparities within Germany with respect to the endowment with growth factors. The study is based on a cluster analysis. Growth factors considered are innovation activity, human capital, private and public capital, and regional concentration. The results show that German regions can be classified in ten clusters with different characteristic profiles. Eight clusters consist of West German regions and two clusters comprise East German regions. There is no cluster which contains both West and East German regions. Regarding the East German clusters more precisely it can be shown that the endowment with growth factors in most of East German regions is low. This result applies also for several West German regions. However there are few East German regions particularly those with important agglomerations which have a more favourable endowment with growth factors. Nevertheless also in those regions still several weaknesses in the endowment with growth factors exist.